The Portland daily press., 1887-04-11

To the Editor of the Press:
1t is, of course, impracticable in city of
the peculiar conformation of this peninsula
to locate general railroad station to con-
yene all parts of the city equally.
Broad street station in Philadelphia. refer
red to in the columns of the PRESS Saturday,
affords no suggestion. If the city of Port
land was fat, like Philadelphia, an analo-
gous station might be established at very
great expense, in lieu Of the proposed SOL
diers' monument, in Market square; but,
like all other cities on bluff, general sta
tion, whether located where now located. or
near st. John street, or at Back Bay, will
necessarily be on the outskirts Of the city.
and convene some portions of the city much
better than others.
When the Boston Il Maine railroad opened
into Portland 1t put on train from Kenne-
bunk to Portland. which soon opened up
considerable local business. Two or three
years ago it put on another train, leaving
Dover in the morning at O'Clock, reaching
Portland about 10, and returning
in the afternoon, which also has
developed a further considerable in
crease of local business. Indeed, the local
business in and out Of Portland over the
Boston 81 Maine has, almost without the
knowledge Of our citizens increased, until
last year, computing Portland tickets be-
tween Portland and stations on the Boston
& Maine railroad east of Portsmouth and
Dover, including Portsmouth and Dover, the
whole number of local passengers into Port
land was 1855, and out of Portland was
S2.0S0. This, Of course, includes the "Old
Orchard" travel; but its extent can be ap-
preciated. when it is known, that the whole
number Of local passengers on all parts of
the Portland q Ogdensburg railroad for the
same period was S9,776, including all be-
tween the Fabyan House and Conway, and
all its other local passengers. I.
In addition the whole number Of Portland
tickets outward on the Maine Central rail-
road last year, including Congress street,
Westbrook Junction and Woodford's, was
80, 1872; and the inward tickets may be sup
posed to be at least as many.
1t might well be expected that, with this
great and growing local traffic. these two
railroad corporations had as large an inter-
est as our citizens themselves in seeing to IL
that a new general railroad station was suit
ably situated to encourage and promote this
Moreover, as is well known, the Maine
Central Railroad Company has been expert
menting with reference to this matter, by
establishing temporary station at the cross
Der of passengers which this station attracts
is very weighty evidence of the desirability
Of the location selected. As is also well
known, the immediate prospect Of station
which shall be q credit to the city is largely
due to the exertions of Mr.. Tucker, and Mr..
fuckers personal interest in Portland, and
also his well known disposition to deal Just
ly, excludes any presumption that the loca-
ton has not been wisely and fairly chosen.
The only other locations which have been
named, are Back Cove and the foot of Maple
street.
A little reflection ought to satisfy anyone.
that the city as whole is more easily reach
ed from Congress street than from either OF
be found to grow more and more objectiona-
Die by reason of the constant
ly increasing number of grade crossings,
which a station at that point would render
necessary.
Let one imagine.a station located near the
loot OF Preble street, or to the eastward of
that point, with its local and through trains
on the Portland q Rochester, the Maine Gen.
trail, the Portland & ogdensburg and the
Boston 4 Maine, crossing and re-crossing
scores OF times daily all the streets now ex-
lsting, or which may hereafter be laid out
between the foot of Preble street and the
present line Of the Maine Central railroadl
gress street.
At the present time the passenger on the
Maine Centralrailroad, who stops at the Con-
gress street station, reaches the heart Of the
city, Market square, the post office, or the
CITY Hall, quite as soon as the train which
he has left, reaches the station at the foot Of
State street; and with the inevitable extern
sion OF the lines Of the Portland Railroad
Company, present conyeniences will rapidly
increase.
The other location at the foot of Maple
street was long since practically condemned
by the people Of Portland themselves.
When the Boston IL Maine railroad came
into Portland 1t purchased the property ly-
ing between Maple, York and Commercial
streets, for the express purpose of establish
ing passenger station there, which would
be convenient for themselves, the Grand
Trunk and the Portland & Ogdensburg,
which latter was then using the Boston &
Maine. tracks for reaching Portland
The rough designs for utilizing this prop
| erty for that purpose were worked out,
and, If the city had acquiesced. the Boston
and Maine would undoubtedly have long
since commenced passenger station at that
point, which would have determined practi-
cally the permanent location of the general
station. 1t was, however, necessary in order
to work out those designs, or work out any
designs for a station at that point, that High
street should be discontinued. This the city
refused to assent to, and thus by our own ac-
ton we determined against the location of
station at that point.
When Sir George Stephen and the other
| officials of the Canadian Pacific were at
Portland a few years since, looking over the
facilities fol. freight business here, they were
Of the opinion, that the proper location
therefor, was the very ground where the
Boston and Maine passenger station now
stands, and in connection Herewith the
frontage as lfar down the har-
Dor as Browns wharf. 1t must
be admitted that thel whole territory
| lying south of Commercial street and West
Commercial street must be cleared of passen-
| ger stations and turned over to freight, when
| ever we have at Portland any considerable
increase Of through traffic. This necessarily
disposes OF the location at the foot of State
| street; and no other locations have been
| suggested except those named.
| 1t Is just that our citizens, in considering
the Congress street location, should fully re-
| gard its advantages as well as the disadvan-
tages connected with every other location
| which has been named or can be named and
they should also bear in mind that its suit
| ableness Is question. not merely of today,
/ but of ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five or
more years to come.